Belgian Draught

Belgian Draught
Shrimp-fishing at Oostduinkerke
Conservation status
  • FAO (2007): not listed: 9 
  • DAD-IS (2023): unknown/at risk
Other names
  • Belgisch Trekpaard
  • Brabançon
  • Brabander
  • Brabant
  • Brabants trekpaard
  • Cheval de trait belge
Country of originBelgium
Use
  • farm work
  • heavy haulage
  • shrimp-fishing
Traits
Weight
  • Male:
    900 kg
  • Female:
    700 kg
Height
  • Male:
    168 cm
  • Female:
    164 cm
The stallion Brillant, painting by Charles-Philogène Tschaggeny
Brabant horses, painting by Henry Schouten [nl] (1857–1927)

The Belgian Draught, Dutch: Belgisch Trekpaard, French: Trait belge, is a Belgian breed of draught horse. It originates in the region of the Low Countries that is now central Belgium, and may also be called the Brabant after the former Province of Brabant in that region.

The American Belgian Draught derives from the same original stock, but has developed differently.

History

The Belgian Draught descends from the heavy farm horses of the region of the Low Countries that is now central Belgium: the Colosse de la Méhaigne from the valley of the Méhaigne in the area of Namur; the Gris de Nivelles et du Hainaut, named for Hainaut region and for the city of Nivelles, now in Walloon Brabant; and the Gros de la Dendre, named for the Dender river of East Flanders and the area that is now Flemish Brabant.: 443 : 166 

In 1886 a national breed society for draught horses – the Société Nationale du Cheval de trait Belge – was formed in Brussels;: 183  in 1887 it was merged with two earlier regional societies – in Liège and in East Flanders – under the name Société Nationale des Eleveurs Belges. In 1890 the existing stud-books for the three draught breeds of the Kingdom of Belgium – the Ardennes, the Brabant, and the Flemish Horse – were merged into one, with two separate sections, one for the Ardennes and one for the Brabant and Flemish together; the Flemish ceased to exist as a distinct breed.: 443 : 183  In 1891 the combined stud-book received ministerial approval. In 1919 the society received royal recognition and was renamed the Société Royale du Cheval de Trait Belge. Stud-books were started in the United States in 1889 and in Canada in 1907.: 183 

The American Belgian Draught derives from the same original stock, but has developed differently. It is generally taller and less heavily built, and has a substantially different distribution of coat colours.: 434 : 166 

Characteristics

The Belgian Draught is a tall, powerful and massive horse. Heights at the withers are usually in the range 163–173 cm (64–68 in), with an average height of 164 cm (65 in) for mares and 168 cm (66 in) for stallions.: 166 : 443  Average weights are approximately 700 kg (1500 lb) for mares and 900 kg (2000 lb) for stallions, but weights of over 1000 kg (2200 lb) are not uncommon.: 166 : 443  The roan coat colour predominates, accounting for about 80% of all of the horses; some 12% are bay, and the remainder chestnut, black or grey.: 443 

Genetic diversity

The Belgian Draught horse has been identified as having an intermediate level of genetic diversity, and found to have relatively low levels of inbreeding. However, due to low founder diversity, the breed is identified as likely to have a potential compromise of genetic diversity in future generations.

Notes

  1. ↑ Dutch: Koloss uit de Méhaignestreek
  2. ↑ Dutch: Grijs van Henegouwen of van Nijvel
  3. ↑ Dutch: Dikke uit de Dendervallei

References

  1. ↑ Barbara Rischkowsky, Dafydd Pilling (editors) (2007). List of breeds documented in the Global Databank for Animal Genetic Resources, annex to The State of the World's Animal Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture. Rome: Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. ISBN 9789251057629. Archived 23 June 2020.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Breed data sheet: Cheval de Trait Belge / Belgium (Horse). Domestic Animal Diversity Information System of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Accessed April 2023.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Valerie Porter, Lawrence Alderson, Stephen J.G. Hall, D. Phillip Sponenberg (2016). Mason's World Encyclopedia of Livestock Breeds and Breeding (sixth edition). Wallingford: CABI. ISBN 9781780647944.
  4. 1 2 3 4 Élise Rousseau, Yann Le Bris, Teresa Lavender Fagan (2017). Horses of the World. Princeton: Princeton University Press. ISBN 9780691167206.
  5. 1 2 3 Valerie Porter, Ian Lauder Mason (2020). Mason's World Dictionary of Livestock Breeds, Types and Varieties (sixth edition). Wallingford; Boston: CABI. ISBN 9781789241532.
  6. 1 2 3 4 Histoire: La création du stud-book (in French). Brussels: Société Royale du Cheval de Trait Belge/Koninklijke Maatschappij het Belgisch Trekpaard.
  7. ↑ Janssens, S.; Stinckens, A.; Schroyen, M.; Peeters, L.; De Keyser, K.; De Wael, R.; Lamberigts, C.; Luyten, T.; Ons, E.; Buys, N. (December 2010). "Genetic diversity in the Belgian Draught Horse breed as revealed by pedigree analysis and molecular marker data: Brief Note". Animal Genetics. 41: 205–206. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2052.2010.02114.x.